McLaren unveils 720S Spider, the lightest convertible on the market

It’s been almost 2 years since the debut of the original McLaren 720S. Shortly after the initial release, the British car manufacturer introduced Senna, a performance-oriented limited edition of the same car. Today, it unveiled the 720S Spider, a retractable-top convertible series.

The new Spider is based on a reworked Monocage II-S platform. Unlike the 650S Spider, it features an all-carbon rear wall with the folding top, safety belts and rollover bars attached to it.

The roof is also made of carbon fiber and only takes 11 seconds to fold and unfold as long as the car travels at under 30 mph (50 km/h). As an alternative, customers may opt for an electrochromatic glass roof which can be dimmed and made transparent again with a single press of a button.

According to the manufacturer, the new McLaren 720S Spider is the lightest sports vehicle in its category. At 1,332 kg (2,937 lb), it weighs 38 kg (84 lb) less than its non-convertible predecessor does.

The engine bay of the car holds a twin-turbo 4.0L V8 engine rated at the same 720 hp (537 kW). The motor works in conjunction with a six-speed SSG-type transmission. It accelerates the new Spider 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 2.9 seconds and lets it sprint 0-200 km/h (0-124 mph) in 7.9 seconds. To compare, the McLaren 650S Spider manages the same in 3.0s and 8.6s, accordingly.

Sales will begin in spring 2019. Prices are expected to start at £237,000.

Photo: McLaren